Combination bumper and switch



Aug. 27, 1957 A. PETERS 2,804,514

CQMBINATION BUMPER AND SWITCH Filed June15, 1956 INVENTOR. ALB/N PE TERS Hrs AIIoXNQew-Q United States Patent COMBINATION BUMPER AND SWITCH Albin Peters, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Chicago Coin Machine Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 15, 1956, Serial No. 591,732

2 Claims. (Cl. 200-6111) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a combination bumper and switch especially adapted for use in connection with a ball rolling game in which balls are projected upon the upper end of an inclined board for gravitation thereover into and against the bumper.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a combination bumper and switch of the character hereinafter described, which comprises relatively few parts, is simple in construction and economical in manufacture.

Another and equally important object of the invention is the provision of a combination bumper and switch having incorporated therein a novel and improved arrangement for effectively actuating the switch to assure that the switch at all times will be positively closed when a ball or other game playing piece engages the target.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention showing the same mounted upon a playing board;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the invention similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts thereof in different positions;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the invention showing the parts thereof in exploded relation with respect to each other;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings herein, my improved combination bumper and switch includes a base plate having a hub 11 which has frictional fit within an opening 12 formed in a game board 13. While this game board 13 is shown in the drawings as being disposed in a horizontal position, it is understood that the same may be disposed at an inclination with respect to a horizontal plane so that balls 14 projected thereon will gravitate down the board.

The base plate 10 is provided with relatively short sleeves 15 which pass through enlarged openings 16 formed in a bumper disc 17. Projected through the openings 16 and into the sleeves 15 are studs 18 formed as an integral part of a hollow bumper 19. The bumper 19 provides studs 20 which seat in recesses 21 formed in the base disc 10. The studs 18 are projected through openings 22. Passed through the studs 20 and openings 23 of the base plate 10 are attaching screws 24 by means of which the bumper housing 19 and base plate 10 are connected to the game board 13. The bumper housing 19 includes a cap 25 which is removable to permit access to the interior thereof.

The bumper disc 17 has a stem 26 formed integral therewith and preferably formed of the same material as the bumper disc 17, which in the present instance is a suitable plastic of non-conductive material.

This stem 26 extends downwardly from the bumper disc 17 through a spring 27 arranged in the hub 11 and through an opening 28 formed in the bottom thereof. The spring 23 is arranged between the bottom wall of the hub 11 and the bottom wall 29 of the bumper housing 19. At the end of the stem 26 is carried a ball-like element 30.

The stem 26 being formed integral with the bumper disc 17 is adapted to rock therewith when the bumper disc is rocked from a horizontal plane by engagement of the ball 14 thereagainst as shown in Fig. 2. To effect rebounding of the ball there is arranged to encircle the bumper housing 19 a rubber ring 31 adapted to be engaged by the ball in the manner shown in Fig. 2. This ring 31 is set in an annular recess 32 formed in the bumper housing 19.

Secured to the underside of the game board 13 as at 33 is a bracket 34 which carries a switch unit 35 at its lower end portion. This switch unit includes two spring leaves 36 and 37 insulated from each other. The spring leaf 37 is insulated from the bracket 34 while the spring leaf 36 has contact therewith. The spring leaves 36 and 37 are each provided with a terminal 38 to which an electric circuit wire may be attached.

The outer end portion of the spring leaf 36 provides an enlarged circular head 39. This head 39 is provided with a centrally located opening 40. Engaging in this opening 40 in contact with the head 39 but not projecting therethrough is the ball element 30.

The bumper structure which I have hereinbefore described is of a conventional construction commonly in use in ball rolling games. My invention is more specifically related to the arrangement for controlling the actuation of the switch 35 by moving the spring leaf 36 into and from contact with the spring leaf 37. This is accomplished by the pendulum action of the stem 26 which is effected by the tilting of the bumper disc 17 by the action of a ball thereagainst. It will be noted that the ball-like element 30 partially projects into the opening 4.0, and as a result thereof is at all times in positive contact with the head 39 of the spring leaf 36 so that the slightest movement of the disc 17 will impart a pendulum movement to the stem 26 to effect opening and closing of the switch 35.

To complete the invention, each of the spring leaves 36 and 37 on confronting sides thereof carries contacts 41.

The spring 27 functions to return the bumper disc 17 and stem 26 to a normal position as shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided a switch for the purposes hereinbefore set forth which will be highly efiicient for its in- I tended purpose and may be manufactured at an economical cost.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification Without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a ball bumper having a bumper disc tiltable by the action of a ball thereagainst from a horizontal plane, of a stem extending from one side of the disc and having a ball-shaped element at the end thereof, a switch comprising a pair of switch leaves one of which is provided with an opening of a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of said ball-shaped element, 7

said switch leaves being at right angles with respect to said stem, said stem and bumper disc being formed integral and of the same non-conductive material.

2. The combination with a' ball bumper having a bumper disc tiltable by the action of a ball thereagainst from a horizontal plane, of a stem extending from one side of the disc and having a ball-shaped element at the end thereof, a switch comprising a pair of switch leaves one of which is provided with an opening of a diameter 10 sufiicient to receive a portion of said ball-shaped element, said switch leaves being at right angles with respect to 4 said stem, said one of the switch leaves being provided with an enlarged head at its outer end portion, in which head said opening is formed, and said stem and bumper disc being formed integral and of the same non-conductive material.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

